Seminar on ZDHC and Sustainability Implementation in textile industry held

A training and capacity building program was launched recently by Textile Today in collaboration with Engineering Resources International (ERI) Ltd. The aim of the program is to make efficient professionals for the textile industry who will run the Sustainability Department and implement Sustainability Management System (SMS) in the factories and help the same to get social, environmental and economic benefit and make the industry sustainable in the long run. In this connection, they organised a seminar on ‘ZDHC and sustainability implementation in textile industry.’

“We know Bangladesh government announced $50 bn target for apparel export by 2021. To fulfill this target we need more efficient professionals. At the same time, Bangladesh government has made 100 economic zones where many textile factories will be set-up and it requires huge skilled professionals,” said Engr. Shafiqur Rahman, President, Institution of Textile Engineers and Technologists (ITET). He was present as the Chief Guest in the launching ceremony while industry experts, international brands, and retailers’ representatives were present as special guests in the seminar including Prof. Dr. Engr. Ayub Nabi Khan, Pro Vice Chancellor, BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology; Engr. Akbar Hakim, Managing Director & CEO, Engineering Resources International (ERI) Ltd, Director, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries; Engr. Ehsanul Karim Kaisar, Eminent Industry Expert, Ex-Executive Director, Esquire Knit Composites Ltd and Engr. Selim Reza, Senior Vice President, The Institution of Textile Engineers & Technologists (ITET), Bangladesh.

“It does not make sense that we will hire efficient professionals from India or SriLanka and spend our earned money for them. China, Turkey, Vietnam are spending millions of dollars on developing human capital and we have to remember human capital improvement is the first step of all industrial successes,” he said. He thanked the organisers as they come forward to solve a core problem of Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry.

After opening ceremony two panel discussion programs held in the seminar where two keynote speakers spoke on ZDHC and sustainability implementation in textile industry. Prasad Pant, South Asia Director, ZDHC Program, discussed details about ‘ZDHC Implementation’ and Tareq Amin, Editor and Publisher of Textile Today, talked about ‘Sustainability Implementation’.

Tareq Amin, said, “In a world where people are struggling every moment to sustain in the current status they are living, the fashion and apparel industry, on which millions of peoples are directly dependent have some responsibilities to the society and its’ elements. Stakeholders like the governments, brands and buyers, consumer right protectors, labour right protectors, community right protectors, trade associations, financial institutions and the factories have their own perspective of sustainability.”

He emphasized on a holistic approach towards sustainability is needed considering all counterparts and stakeholders to put some real positive impact on businesses, people, and the planet. Factories being the core and one of the most impactful stakeholders in the value chain need to take a systematic approach for implementing sustainability.

“For sustainability management and installation, we need to build efficient professionals. In this regard, Textile Today already has taken initiatives by its training module and today we have launched certificate course on ‘Sustainability Management’ in collaboration with ERI,” said Tareq Amin. Describing textile industry as the third most polluting industry Prasad Pant said, “We are pushing this hazardous chemicals affect to our next generation.” The South Asian Director of ZDHC Program spoke details on ZDHC programs where he highlighted 3 pillars such as collaborative engagement, standard setting and implementation & innovation.

Engr. Akbar Hakim, Managing Director & CEO, ERI, said, “Sustainability is very broad issue. To implement it in Bangladesh textile and apparel industry, which accounts for more than 80 per cent foreign export earnings, every stakeholder, especially owners, should come up with the concept Sustainability”.